"So, I called myself Pip, and came to be called Pip." -- Charles Dickens, 'Great Expectations'



Liverpool Life And just when you think you've seen everything, you pass through the university precinct and see someone giving away free money. Two girl shaped students standing around outside the bank were handing out the above flyers this afternoon which as you can see had a pound coin taped to the front. 'Check out the website' they said cheerfully.

Curiously instead of some new student finance company, it's actually a YouTube inspired video sharing community which offers payment for videos. Its about page provides a bit of a mystery:
"Cashtomato was founded by a wealthy mystery benefactor, who is described by all who know him as "eccentric". He made his fortune in real estate, and is now having more fun giving it away, than he ever did making it. For now, he will remain anonymous, although his identity will probably be revealed sooner or later.

Our mission is to be the biggest, or at least the funnest, video sharing community on the web. We want to give cash to our members, to have fun, and also to donate a lot of money. Cashtomato is about being both generous and selfish, naughty and nice, yin and yang, sugar and spice. We just want to have fun, make money, and give a lot away. Help us do it!
I suspect this is some kind of viral marketing campaign for something else entirely, especially since whoever is giving away their money is only seeming withholding their identity temporarily. It seems very curious that a philanthropist would pay students for uploading home videos rather than giving it to Oxfam. Eccentric indeed.

On reflection though what seems like a reckless act -- handing out coinage -- turns out to be quite clever since I did look at the website and here I am writing about it on my blog. Job done then, with me looking a bit foolish -- except for gratefully being a pound up. Although surely there were less secluded places with more foot traffic than where these two were hidden?

See also: I tried to avoid a Hare Krishna follower today.

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